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Eyes Up - part 3 - Joy

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“...where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord....
Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

 So we are in this series of posts where we are focusing in on verses above. In this series of posts we are fixing our focus and looking to where true help comes from in order to do the things that calls us to do to the best of our ability and have the life He wants us to have - a life to the full (John 10:10).

 Joy.

 We all are looking for joy in some form. We look for jobs that will bring us joy. We look for relationships that will bring us joy. We look for hobbies that will bring us joy. We look for joy.

 But it’s hard for us to find joy in a world that pushes more more more. You need this. You need that. This will make you happy. This person will make you happy. Buy this. Buy that. More more more.

How then do we have joy?? - EYES UP!

 I want to draw your attention to the verse below from the book of Hebrews:

 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:2 NIV

 Now wait.... really? “For the JOY.... He endured the cross.” Really?

 I have read Hebrews 12:2 before many times and I have taught it a few times. But this really stood out at me this time. There was nothing joyful about a cross. No one ever said “Oh boy i get to be crucified!” A cross symbolized torture and execution. In Jesus’ case, it was a symbol of murder. A symbol of joy?

 Then I realized what the writer of Hebrews was saying. Jesus knew what the outcome was going to be. Jesus knew that He had to go to the cross to have joy. Jesus was probably the only person to look at the cross and say “Oh what joy fills me because I get to go to the cross.” I know that’s weird to read - and it was weird to type.

But Jesus had joy even at the last moment when it’s figured that joy would have been far from His mind. This is because He had His EYES UP! “The joy set before Him” was His mission - US. He was joyful because through His pain and sacrifice many people would be helped. After all Jesus came to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21, NIV). He was joyful all the way to the end because it was His mission. He had his EYES UP.

 It is possible sometimes, I think, that the reason why joy runs short in our lives is because we are focused down. We are focused on us and what we need and not what we have. This world we live in drives us to want more more more more more and there is never a level of contentment because there is always something better that comes along and steals our joy. I would say we suffer from the grass is always greener syndrome. There is always something else that comes along that we think will make us happy and we wind up empty. Jesus left this world full of joy and He was hanging on a cross.

 A friend of mine - a wise old man - sends out text messages every morning and in one a few weeks ago he said this:

 “Make today YOUR Triumphant Day leading into YOUR record breaking August, and don’t let anyone steal your joy or happiness, share it with everyone! Give your worries and fears to God, this morning! Recount, out loud, what and whom you’re grateful for! And finally, decide what you’re going to do to make your world better! You’ll be off to an amazing start on your day!!” - by John

 Joy is yours to have or surrender. Which will you do?

 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” - Philippians 4:12 NIV
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